AILA Applauds President’s Remarks on Immigration Reform in State of the Union and Calls on Congress to “Get It Done”

Washington, DC - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) applauds President Obama for emphasizing immigration reform in his State of the Union address on February 12. Focusing on the economic benefits of immigration and the consensus that is building around the need for immigration reform, Mr. Obama noted the importance of a roadmap to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented, and the need for real solutions for the "legal immigration system to cut waiting periods, reduce bureaucracy, and attract the highly-skilled entrepreneurs and engineers that will help create jobs and grow our economy." He called on Congress to move forward and "get it done." AILA echoes his call.

The President expanded on his views on enforcement and border security, saying that "Real reform means strong border security, and we can build on the progress my Administration has already made - putting more boots on the southern border than at any time in our history, and reducing illegal crossings to their lowest levels in 40 years." In its recent report, "Border Security: Moving Beyond Past Benchmarks," AILA concluded that all of the benchmarks of past reform bills have been met and that more resources should not be put on the border until lawmakers establish clear metrics.

"Our country faces many challenges, so President Obama's choice to emphasize his commitment to creating an immigration system that works for our country underscores the importance of this issue," said Laura Lichter, AILA President. She continued, "Because of our antiquated, dysfunctional immigration system, families are being torn apart every day, while innovators who want to come to the United States and start businesses that would benefit the economy are instead being driven to other countries. We need to do better than this, our country deserves better than this, and working together, Congress and the President must respond to this need."

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The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.